Dielectric phase shifting unit, dielectric phase shifter and base station antenna

Abstract

The present invention relates to the field of communications technology, and in particular, to technology related to impedance matching in communication technology, and in particular, to a dielectric phase shifting unit, dielectric phase shifter and base station antenna. It includes a feeding network and a dielectric plate for impedance matching and for moving along a predetermined path, an impedance matching portion of the dielectric plate being disposed on one end of the dielectric plate adjacent to an input port on the feeding network. The present invention not only reduces the number of impedance matching and network loss; it also reduces the equivalent electrical length of the entire network, effectively saving costs, reducing the complexity of disassembly and assembly of related components, and improves disassembly and assembly efficiency.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A dielectric phase shifting unit, comprising a feeding network and a dielectric plate for impedance matching and for moving along a predetermined path, an impedance matching portion of the dielectric plate being disposed on one end of the dielectric plate adjacent to an input port on the feeding network, wherein the dielectric plate further includes an extension portion integrally formed with the impedance matching portion, the impedance matching portion having a thickness smaller than that of the extension portion. 
     
     
       2. The dielectric phase shifting unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the impedance matching portion includes at least one matching hole. 
     
     
       3. The dielectric phase shifting unit as recited in  claim 1 , wherein the feeding network further includes at least one output port. 
     
     
       4. A dielectric phase shifter, comprising: a cavity, a dielectric phase shifting unit according to  claim 1 , wherein the dielectric plate is disposed between the cavity and the feeding network, wherein there is a plurality of the dielectric phase shifting units, and the dielectric phrase shifting units are sequentially connected in series to form at least one series group or they are connected side by side, and every two adjacent dielectric phase shifting units in the series group are misaligned in a shape of a “Z” or an inverse “Z” such that the dielectric plate does not alternatively cover the feeding network when moving. 
     
     
       5. The dielectric phase shifter as recited in  claim 4 , wherein there is a plurality of the series groups, and the series groups are arranged side by side. 
     
     
       6. The dielectric phase shifter as recited in  claim 4 , wherein when the dielectric phase shifting units in each series groups are connected in series, the corresponding dielectric plates are integrally connected and the feeding networks are also integrally connected. 
     
     
       7. A base station antenna, comprising a dielectric phase shifter according to  claim 4 . 
     
     
       8. The dielectric phase shifter as recited in  claim 4 , wherein when the dielectric phase shifting units in each series groups are connected in series, the corresponding dielectric plates are integrally connected and the feeding networks are also integrally connected. 
     
     
       9. The dielectric phase shifter as recited in  claim 5 , wherein when the dielectric phase shifting units in each series groups are connected in series, the corresponding dielectric plates are integrally connected and the feeding networks are also integrally connected.